Searching for a new flat to rent in London

So I'm looking for a new flat to rent in London and thought I'd keep you updated on my search, and share my inside info with you along the way :)

Day 1 - Time to start searching!

So my current flatmates have decided to either buy a property, or move in with their new girlfriends, ditching me to brave the property hunt on my own. Not quite sure who to live with yet, but considering renting a 2 bed and then advertising for a flatmate afterwards. This is something I'd prefer to do as I can't think of anything worse than going to be interviewed and being turned down from a flatshare! Feels like dating... but worse!

Tip: Rent a 2 bed place on your own and then find your flatmate afterwards... be the boss!

My current place is in Fulham, a pretty chilled area with a Waitrose, Wholefoods and an amazing coffee shop called Shot... I wonder if they'll miss me when I'm gone! I'm currently in a 3 bed flat paying £765 pcm (plus bills). My place is in a great location, 4 mins walk to the tube and you can walk to The Kings Road in no time at all. There are some great bars and restaurants to explore if you're on a night out - I'd highly recommend it.

I've decided I'd like to explore some areas further North where I can walk to work, such as Primrose Hill, Islington and Belsize Park. I visited Primrose Hill recently and fell in love with the area. The shops, cafes and pubs on Regent's Park Road make it feel like a little village, and the view from Primrose Hill itself... wow. I'm also pretty keen on Notting Hill - it's easy to get into work on the Central line, I've got a few friends in Ladbroke Grove and the area also has great pubs such as The Duke of Wellington.

Tip: Make excuses to check out new areas in London at the weekends to find the place that's perfect for you. I always try to do some everyday things when I'm there, like pop to the supermarket, coffee shops and find a nice place for brunch. Get familiar with the time it takes to get to the tube from your new area.

Planning to do some more exploring this weekend, so I'll keep you posted!

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Day 5 - Exploring and understanding options

I got some great news the other day, a friend of mine is looking for a flatmate to move into his place in Pimlico - not an area I'd considered but actually quite accessible as the Victoria line is so fast. I haven't been to see it yet, but sounds like a good potential option. I'll keep you posted on what the area is like.

Spent this weekend checking out some of the areas I mentioned previously. Hampstead was just lovely, the sun was shining so that always helps, and I sat outside and had brunch on the high street. It has a pretty chilled out vibe, lots of families and dogs, and everything you'd need for shopping on your doorstep, including fashion, beauty, food, art, homeware and plenty of restaurants to choose from.

Took a walk down to Primrose Hill and stopped off in The Princess of Wales - now one of my favourite pubs. They actually have some great food, and you can sit outside if it's warm enough! Slightly quieter area than Hampstead, but equally as lovely.

Tip: I also checked out Muswell Hill as I heard that it's a similar vibe with a nice area of shops/restaurants... it's great but there's no tube line and not sure I'm ready to commit to buses/Uber just yet! It would work if you drive everywhere.

Keeping with the North London theme, I popped to Highgate this weekend and discovered the most lovely place to sit and chill out in the sun: Waterlow Park. Check it out!

On another note, I discovered a cool new way of renting that I plan to go and investigate this week. This company emailed us as Movebubble to discuss the potential of listing their properties on the app, and when I checked them out I was really impressed. The Collective is a new way of renting in London created especially for young professionals. They have several developments, Acton, Camden, Hyde Park, King's Cross, Notting Hill and Old Oak - all slightly different. The site I'm looking at (Notting Hill) starts from £320 per week, although there's a cool looking studio with a mezzanine sleeping area for £365 per week. All their properties come with all inclusive billing, broadband, room cleaning, and much more.

Tip: Consider new innovative ways of living such as The Collective. They offer the convenience and flexibility that young professionals really need.

If you have any questions about my property search, please comment below and I'll answer them in the next post.